The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-07


he lives and homes Of bis people, 1t
Tould have been unworthy TO offer
acrifice 10 secure the failure Of the
ause for which he had drawn his
word and then bore q commission.
Ten. Wolseley, in his article, commits
Tarious biographical and historical sr-
ors which are not considered impor-
ant, and therefore are not noticed In
his review.
His nomenclature, as well as his de-
from "Mr. Davis" indicate
he Northern source Of his informa-
ion, for 1t is not at all probable that
he learned 1t either by conversation
with Lee. or s-3ociation with officers
at bis hea iquarters. With assumption
to know not only the acts but motives
OF men, some Of but brief acquaintance,
and Others only heard Of, he decides
not only the character Of the war be-
tween the States, but what shonls
have be IN the political course OF tie
Southern people. -.
Having turned loose his imagination,
free from tee restraint OF historical
facts, he sws cps the whole held In the
following paragraph:
Like ali men, Lee had his faults; like all
the greatest Of Generals, no sometimes naas
mistakes, His nature shrsnk with such nor
ror from tho dread OIL woundipg the feelings
Of others, that upon occasions ne ieft men IN
sSiiities were not equal. This softness Of
heart, amiable as that quality may be;
amounts 10 q crime in the man Entrusted
with the direction OF public Affairs at critical
moments. Lees devotion TO d.ty ana grsas
respeot for obedience seem at times 70 have
made him tso subservient 70 those charged
with the civil government of his country: de
carried out too literally the orders OF those
whom the Confederate Combination MADE
his superiors, although he must have known
them 10 be entirely ignorant of the science
Of war. He appears to have forgotten that ne
was the great revolutionary chief engaged
in . great revolutionary war that ne was
no mere leader in a political struggle q
we'll established form OF government. ~
was very clear TO many at the time, as 1t VIII
be commonly acknowledged now, that the
South could only hope 70 win under me rue
of military dictator. IL Gen. washington
had had Mr.. Davis over him, ,could he
have accomplished what he diaY 1t will,
am sure, be news to many that Gen. Lee was
given the command over all the Con- edeIate
armies month or two only before inc maj L
South was all throughout the war dictated by
Mr.. Davis, az President Of the Confederate
States Lee had no power to reward soldiers
or promote officers. 1t was Mr.. Davis who
selected men to command divisions ana ar
mics"
II it be a psychological reflection,
the announcement that no man is per-
feet is more grave than novel; or, II II
be regarded In a military sense, still 1t
Is not quite new, as Mar5hal SAKE in
the long, long sgo is reported to have
eaid that the general who had made nc
mistake must have made few cam
paigns.
In what, it is asked, consisted the
criminslity imputed to Leef II BIZ
was in no way responsible for the SO
lection and promotion OF the genera
officers, and had no power to secure
the removal OF incompetent officers
what was his crimef Did any cas-
ever occur where his recommendation
for promotion was disregarded, or hi
req nest for the removal OF eubordi
nate was refused2 If none, and l be
lieye there was none, then the com
plant Is causeloss and never coult
have had its origin in words Spoken
by Lee.
The idea that ours was a "grea
revolutionary war" must be attributed
to the want Of political information
more excusable In foreigner than II
a native, and the conclusion that W
should have had military dictator
is even worse than the premise. Tn
most cursory observation might hav
taught an intelligent visitor that tn
States had old, we'll established form
of government, and that the Souther
people had confederated to defen
their community Independence an
inherited rights of person and proper
ty. Could anything, to the sversg
English mind, be more absurd tina
the supposition that men inspire
, with the determination to stake thei
all in defense OF such rights, woul
have commenced the struggle 3
thro wing away their trusty law shiel
and submitting entirely 20 the will
, a dictator-would fly to deapotism
q refuge from possible conquest?
II a proposition may be considers
after deciding 1t to be absurd, l vi
cay in addition that no man among
y wko could have been thought worth
! of euch trust, by any large numb
. of our people, could have been 30 I
!, cresnt to principle as to accept Il
: oficr to reign supreme over the pre-
: trate liberty Of his countrymen.
II The hypothetical illustration OF &c
Is Washing on with MIR. Davis Ov
II him, together with the matter viii,
n Immediately precedes and follows, d
: timely presents to the reader as fat
that the wa, between the States was
Q revolutionary war, quite like that
a the Colonies against Great Britain th
B. Gen. Washington had dictatorial pc
| or, and that his army was free fro
d any control by civil authorities; ca
9 position is untrue, and the represen
IT lion inexcuesble in one appearing
,r q writer on Confederate affairs. A
10 period of greatest depression the %
q grees Of the Confederation did invt
i, Gen. Washington with extraordlns
e powers; they were not, howev
e plenary, but distinctly enumeratt
N given only for brief period.
P. II Gen. Wolseley, by the latter pa
W OF tue paragraph quOseu huoNVS nea
" to state that "a month or two only |
10 fore the collapse" Gen. Lee was Civ
a. command over all our armies, die
N ton of the military policy Of the %
lie fedeIacy, the reward OF soldiers q
g. the promotion Of officers, / am one
10 the many to whom 1t would be ne
lit were fact. The general sup
O. vision and direction of all our arm
n, was assigned to Gen. Lee by Preside
OF Davis in the first year Of the war. !
ri Ice was in Richmond, ard he O.
a. tinued, under executive authority 10
id and ueefully to discharge that duty
d After the battle Of Seven Pines g,
le Lee was ordered to the field and to
70 immediate command OF the Army
70 Virginia, then confronting the enel
,e on the Ohickaholniny. The success
ia of our arms in tie seven days bait
g. fulfilled my expectations OF Lee, q
re secured for him the confidence of
In people and the devoted love and
miration OF his army.
10 The habitual thoroughness W
10 which Gen. Lee discharged eve
Ia drfv and his exact knoWladOa of